Screen door catch



June-Z, 1931. D. M. wooDs SCREEN DOOR CATCH Filed April 28. 1930 IIA Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES DAVID M. WOODS, F SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSGNOR OF ARMSTRONG, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA PATENroFFlcE :ons-HALF To J. vH. *y

sonnen noon CATCH" 7 Application filed April 28,

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet an etticient and desirable catch for screen doors and the like, which may readily be released simply by pulling the door from the outside or pushing it from the other side.

A further object is to provide a new and improved means wherebythe catch may be held against release whenever it is desired to lock the door closed.

Vith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompany ing drawings.

F ig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a screen door and a door amb showing the invention applied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section.

F ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the catch being locked in both 2 and 3.

. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the door and jamb showing the catch in top plan view.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 5 denotes a U-shaped spring metal socket which is formed by bending a single strip of resilient metal upon itself. One arm 6 of the socket 5 is adapted to lie against a door j amb 7 and has its free end 8 bent laterally to engage the same, while the other arm 12 of said socket is free, the outer end of this arm being curved inwardly at 13, providing a bead which is adapted for co-action with a similar bead 14 on a door-carried tongue 15. Tongue 15 is provided with an attaching plate 16 having a` slot 17 through which attaching screws 18 are passed for securing it to a screen door or the like 19. The slot 17 permits any necessary adjustment of the tongue 15 so'that it may readily enter between the arms 6 and 12 as the door closes, and after making the adjust-ment, tightening of the screws 18 will secure the tongue to the door.

The arms 6 and 12 are provided with alined openings 19 through which a wood screw 20 passes, said screw being adapted for driving l in the jamb 7 to attach the spring socket 5.

to its effective Y in closed position.

1930. seria1rr0.44s,o1s. y

Mounted upon this screw 20, between the head i 2.1 thereof and the outer arm 12 of the socket 5, is a right angular locking arm 22. This arm normally occupies the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and hence'does not interfere .with springing of the arm 1-2 away fromthearm 6; However', whenthe arm 22 isr swung -to the full line'position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, itiholdsarm 22 against outward lspringing away from the arm 6 and hence prevents the tongue 15 from withdrawing, thereby holding the door 19 closed.A a

A guard plate 23 is disposed at the outer side of the arm 22, one end 24 of said guard plate beingbent laterally atthe inner'end of the socket 5 and secured to the jamb 7 by screws or the like 25. Other4 screws 26 pass through thefother end .of plate 23 and secure it in spaced relation with the door jamb-7, the guard plate being in such relation with other elements Ythat Iit prevents outward swinging of theflocking arm 22 when the latter is in the yoperative position shownin Figs. 2 and 3. In the construction shown, an opening 27 is formed in the guard plate 23, merely to accommodatev the'head21 of the screwxk 1 v-f hen" the locking arm 22 isin its inoperative position and the door stands closed, the beads 13 and 14 engage each other as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. Upon an outward pull or `push upon the door, bead 14 .exerts a cam action against bead 13, thereby springing the arm 22 outwardly sufficiently to allow said bead 14 to withdraw from the spring socket 5. Vhen the door again closes, bead 14 again forces arm 12 outwardly and this arm returns position by its own resiliency. Vihen arm 22 is swungto operative position, it effectively locks the arm 12 against springing away from thearm 6 and hence the tongue 15 cannot withdraw from the socket and the door is heldin closed position. By tightening the screw 20 from time to time, it inwardly forces the locking arm 22 and the arm 12 of the socket member 5, for the purpose of compensating for wear, which wear would otherwise interfere with tight holding of the door The simple and inexpensive details herein disclosed are preferably followed, but within the scope of the invention asl claimed, variations may be made.

l. A door -catch comprising a one-piece springr metal strip bent upon itself between its ends to provide a U-shaped spring socket to receive a door-carried tongue, one arm of said U-shapedsocket beingadapted to lie p against a door jamb, and the other arm thereof beinginwardly curved at its free end to engage the tongue, said arms having alined openings between `their ends, a wood screw passing through said openings and adapted for driving into the doorjamb to attach saidv socket, and a lockingy arm pivoted on said screw betweenthehead of the latter and said other larm of the socket, said locking arm beingl swingable to a position at which it prevents springing of said other arm away from said one arm, tightening of said screw serving to force said locking armand said other arm of said Ushaped socket further inward to compensate for Wear.

2. A door catch comprising a one-piece spring metal strip bent upon itself between itsendsto provide a U-shaped spring socket to'receiivea door-carried tongue, one arm of said U-shapedsocket being adapted to lie against a door jamb, and the 'other arm thereof being inwardly curved; at its free end to engagethe tongue, said arms having alined openings between their ends, a-fastener passing through said openings,y a locking arm pivoted on said fastener at the outer other arm of the socket, said Y Vlocking'arin being swingable to a position at v v`3 side of saidA which it prevents springing of said other arm of the socket away from lsaid one armV thereof, a guard plate, and means for mounting said plate at the outer side of saidalocking arm. in position to prevent/said locking arni from 'yielding outwardly from its operative position.y

. In testimony whereofI aiiix my signature. L

DAVID M. VOODS` 

